Pump station test stand assembly

ABSTRACT

A test stand assembly for convenient testing of &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;jockey&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;booster&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; pump stations associated with fire extinguishing systems, said assembly comprising a test stand with a pair of spaced, parallel legs adapted to be received by a stationary mounting base anchored near the pump station, a transverse support member attached to and extending between the legs and including a plurality of mounting apertures each with a readily releasable coupling for convenient attachment of the test hoses and associated nozzles to hold such in place during testing.

United States Patent 1 1 Klarke [111' 3,844,516 1451 Oct. 29,1974

1 1 PUMP STATION TEST STAND ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: Phillip Klarke, 327S. Porter St.,

Michigan City, 1nd. 46360 [22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.:311,730

[52] US. Cl 248/88, 239/276, 248/86,

I 248/156 [51] Int. Cl B05b 15/06 [58] Field of Search 248/75, 80-88,

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 180,007 7/l876 IC0pping.... 248/86 X 1,085,084 1/1914 Haines 248/86 1,339,885 5/1920248/81 1,425,067 8/1922 248/88 1,667,342 4/1928 Blaw 248/84 1,767,2806/1930 Fenhouse 2 48/56 1,775,846 9/1930 Blaw 248/82 1,809,550 6/1931Farrar 248/80 2,747,823 5/1956 Swenholt 3,198,465 8/1965 Sutton 248/873,603,539 9/1971 Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant ExaminerRodneyH. Bonck Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson[57] ABSTRACT A test stand assembly for convenient testing of jockey orbooster pump stations associated with fire extinguishing systems, saidassembly comprising a test stand with a pair of spaced, parallel legsadapted to be received by a stationary mounting base anchored near thepump station, a transverse support member attached to and extendingbetween the legs and in cluding a plurality of mounting apertures each'with a readily releasable coupling for convenient attachment of thetest hoses and associated nozzles to hold such in place during testing.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Clegg 2 48/79 PUMP STATION TEST STANDASSEMBLY The present invention is generally related to fireextinguishing equipment, and more particularly, to a test stand assemblyfor holding fire hoses securely in place while conducting pressure testsof pump stations, or the like.

Many commercial buildings are presently provided with booster" or"jockey" pump stations which furnish increased water pressure to fireextinguisher sprinkler systems. in many sections of the country, localfire codes, or other laws, require that tests be conducted periodicallyto assure proper operation of such booster pump stations. This has beendone by con necting fire hoses to appropriate fittings outside of eachbooster pump stations'and spraying water through the hoses by way .ofthe pumps. The force of the water spray serves as an indication ofproper or improper operation of each pump.

While such conventional techniques of pressure testing have providedsatisfactory test results, they have proven both time consuming andexpensive. In order to conduct the required tests, it has been necessarythat the fire inspector, or other person overseeing the tests,

- be aided by workers properly attired and equipped to handle the firehoses to control such under the influence of water exhausting at arelatively high flow rate. Furthermore, the direction of hose spraycould not always be controlled, such that unprotected areas were.

lt is a further object of the present invention to pro-' vide aversatile pump station test stand assembly which includes aportable teststand which may be conveniently carried from one test site to anotherand fitted in a permanent mounting base at each test site for supportinga plurality of fire hoses and nozzles while conducting pressure tests. I

Still another object'of the present invention is to provide a novelpump-station test stand assembly which includes a plurality ofreadilyfreleasable couplings, each of which permits the expeditiousconnection and disconnection of the test nozzles and their associatedhoses. i a I These together with other objects and advantages FIG. 3 isan enlarged sectional view taken substantially along section 33 of FIG.1.

F104 is an elevational view of one of the couplings associated with thepresent invention.

Referring now, more particularly, to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the teststand assembly of the present invention is generally indicated by thenumeral 10 and includes a mounting base 12 appropriately anchored in theground with a test stand mounted thereto and-generally indicated by thenumeral 14. The assembly is mounted in the vicinity of a buildingstructure or pump station 16 which houses booster" or jockey pumpequipment. --An appropriate outlet structure 18 is mounted on theexterior of the pump station and is provided with a plurality offittings 20 for connection to fire hoses, such as that indicated at 22.

Fire hose 22 extends between pump station 16 and test stand 14, where itis connected to a nozzle 24, in a manner hereinafter explained. It willbe appreciated that the nozzle is disposed in a generally horizontalorientation, but preferably slightly inclined, and is securely held inplace in one of a plurality of mounting apertures 26 in a transversesupport member 28. This assures that the water exhausted from the nozzleis in the same general direction for each test. Since the test standisheld firmly in place, theprobability of spraying into unprotected areasis minimal.

Referring now, more particularly, to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will beobserved that mounting base 12 includes a pair of spaced, paralleltubular members 30.

tion. If desired, the upper ends of the tubular members may be'providedwith removable caps, such as those indicated at 36 which cover the topsof the tubular members when the test stand is notin place-to prevent theentrance of contaminants. I

'The test stand includes a pair of relatively rigid,

i spaced,parallel legs 38 and 40 which are of appropriwhich will becomesubsequently-apparent reside in the l details of construction andoperation ,as more'fully hereinafter described-and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings forming apart hereof,

wherein like numerals refer to'like parts throughout. i

ate dimension and spacing to be ,slidably receivedby tubular members 30and '32. A stop tab 42, or other protrusion may be provided-on each ofthe legs for engagement with the top ends of the tubular members toassure that the test stand is inserted the same distance each time it isused. This aids in controlling the area in which the spray will bedirected during each test. Preferably, legs 38 and 40 assume anorientation inclined tended that the present invention be limited to theFIG. 1 isa perspective view of the test stand assembly number or exactconfiguration of mounting, apertures illustrated. if desired, a greateror lesser number of mounting apertures may be provided and may be of different configuration and located in different locations relative to eachother A readily releasable coupling, generally indicated by the numeral41, is mounted immediately adjacent each aperture 26 and is ingeneralalignment therewith. When setting up the test stand prior to test,nozzle '24 is inserted through one of themounting apertures 26 andappropriately connected to the associated hose 22, and the associatedcoupling 41 is firmly tightened, as hereinafter explained.

Referring now, more particularly, to H08. 3 and 4 the mountingarrangements of the test hose and nozzle with the readily releasablecoupling may be seen in more detail. Preferably, each nozzle is providedwith a threaded neck portion 42 which is of approximately the samediameter as mounting apertures 26. In addition, each nozzle includes anenlarged shoulder portion 44 of greater diameter than neck portion 42which abuts against one side of support member 28, as indicated at 46.The fire hose is provided with a threaded sleeve 48 which is connectedto the neck portion of the nozzle after insertion through one of themounting apertures.

Each readily releasable coupling includes a stationary clamp member 50which is welded, or otherwise fastened to support member 28. A movableclamp member 52 is pivotally mounted to support member 28 by a bolt orpin as indicated at 54. The clamp members are provided with generallysemicircular surfaces which are oppositely disposed of each other todefine a circular clamp when the members are pulled toward each other,as illustrated in FIG. 4. This is achieved by way of a rotatably mountedshoulder bolt 56, or the like, with a threaded end portion 58 whichengages a threaded aperture at the movable end of clamp member 52.Shoulder bolt 56 is rotatably mounted to clamp member 50 and is heldthereto by way of a shoulder 60 and a bottom shoulder of threaded endportion 58. The shoulder bolt is further provided with a transversehandle portion 62 which permits the bolt to be tightened and loosened byhand.

It will be appreciated that in order to aid in the insertion of thenozzles and their connection to the associated hoses, each movable clampmember 52 may be pivoted upward and away from the associated mountingaperture, as indicated in dash line at 64 in FIG. 4. Once the nozzlesand hoses have been connected, each of the clamp members 52 is pivoteddownwardly and drawn toward a stationary clamp member by turning theassociated shoulder bolt 56.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the pumpstation test stand assembly of the present invention provides aconvenient means of holding a plurality of test nozzles and hosessecurely in place while conducting pressure tests. The nozzles and hosesmay be quickly and conveniently mounted in place and held firmly inposition with the aid of the readily releasable couplings. The angle anddirection of the test spray is predetermined, such that unprotectedareas will not be accidentally sprayed during test. Furthermore, thepressure tests may be conducted by one person, such as the fireinspector, without the aid of other workers to hold the hoses to preventthem from spraying into unprotected areas. It will also be appreciatedthat the test stand is readily removable from the mounting base,rendering it portable in nature, such that it may be carried from onetest site to another. Also, when the test stand is removed from themounting base no unsightly equipment 'is left in view outside of thepump station.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications andvchanges willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An assembly for testing a booster pump station or the like, saidassembly comprising a stationary mounting base near the pump station anda test stand removably mounted to said base for holding at least onetest hose and nozzle in place during tests; said test stand including apair of substantially rigid, spaced, parallel legs, a transverse supportmember connected to said legs, and means associated with said supportmember for selectively securing a test hose and nozzle in place duringtests and directing the test nozzle in a direction toward apredeten'nined test spray area, the securing means including an apertureprovided in the support member, said stationary mounting base includinga pair of spaced, parallel tubular members in generally verticalorientation and a transverse plate connecting together the members,portions of said legs extending into said tubular members with the platenormally being arrangeable beneath a support surface into which themembers are insertable.

2. The assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said securing meansincludes first and second clamp members oppositely disposed of eachother, said first clamp member being pivotally mounted to said supportmember adjacent the aperture therein, said securing means furtherincluding means-including a T-shaped handle provided with a shoulder anda threaded end portion for selectively engaging a threaded apertureprovided in the first clamp member and drawing said first and secondclamp members toward each other and into snug engagement about theaperture, the handle being rotatably mounted to the second clamp memberat the shoulder thereof and arranged with the shoulder drawing thesecond clamp member toward the first clamp member.

3. In combination with a hose and associated nozzle, a test standassembly comprising stationary mounting means and a test stand removablyheld by said mounting means, said test stand including a rigid supportmember connected to said mounting means, said nozzle including ashoulder in engagement with one side of said support member, saidsupport member including at least one mounting aperture, and couplingmeans associated with said support member and adjacent said mountingaperture retentatively embracing a portion of said nozzle to hold saidnozzle .firmly in place during tests, said coupling means being disposedon the opposite side .of said support member, and said hose beingremovably fastened to said nozzle on said opposite side of said supportmember, said coupling means including first and second clamp membersoppositely disposed of each other, said first clamp member beingpivotally mounted to said support member, said coupling means furtherincluding means including a T-shaped handle provided with a shoulder anda threaded end portion for selectively engaging a threaded apertureprovided in the first clamp member and drawing said first and secondclamp members toward each other and into snug engagement with saidnozzle portion, the handle being rotatably mounted to the second clampmember at the shoulder, said nozzle portion and said mounting aperturebeing of circular configuration and of approximately equal diameters,said first and second clamp tween the legs, the mounting aperture beingprovided in a substantially planar portion of the support member, theplanar portion being arranged parallel to the legs, and wherein thestationary mounting means includes a pair of spaced, parallel tubularmembers arranged in generally vertical orientation, and a transverseplate connecting together the members, portions of said legs extendinginto said tubular members for being supported thereby.

1. An assembly for testing a booster pump station or the like, saidassembly comprising a stationary mounting base near the pump station anda test stand removably mounted to said base for holding at leasT onetest hose and nozzle in place during tests; said test stand including apair of substantially rigid, spaced, parallel legs, a transverse supportmember connected to said legs, and means associated with said supportmember for selectively securing a test hose and nozzle in place duringtests and directing the test nozzle in a direction toward apredetermined test spray area, the securing means including an apertureprovided in the support member, said stationary mounting base includinga pair of spaced, parallel tubular members in generally verticalorientation and a transverse plate connecting together the members,portions of said legs extending into said tubular members with the platenormally being arrangeable beneath a support surface into which themembers are insertable.
 2. The assembly set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid securing means includes first and second clamp members oppositelydisposed of each other, said first clamp member being pivotally mountedto said support member adjacent the aperture therein, said securingmeans further including means including a T-shaped handle provided witha shoulder and a threaded end portion for selectively engaging athreaded aperture provided in the first clamp member and drawing saidfirst and second clamp members toward each other and into snugengagement about the aperture, the handle being rotatably mounted to thesecond clamp member at the shoulder thereof and arranged with theshoulder drawing the second clamp member toward the first clamp member.3. In combination with a hose and associated nozzle, a test standassembly comprising stationary mounting means and a test stand removablyheld by said mounting means, said test stand including a rigid supportmember connected to said mounting means, said nozzle including ashoulder in engagement with one side of said support member, saidsupport member including at least one mounting aperture, and couplingmeans associated with said support member and adjacent said mountingaperture retentatively embracing a portion of said nozzle to hold saidnozzle firmly in place during tests, said coupling means being disposedon the opposite side of said support member, and said hose beingremovably fastened to said nozzle on said opposite side of said supportmember, said coupling means including first and second clamp membersoppositely disposed of each other, said first clamp member beingpivotally mounted to said support member, said coupling means furtherincluding means including a T-shaped handle provided with a shoulder anda threaded end portion for selectively engaging a threaded apertureprovided in the first clamp member and drawing said first and secondclamp members toward each other and into snug engagement with saidnozzle portion, the handle being rotatably mounted to the second clampmember at the shoulder, said nozzle portion and said mounting aperturebeing of circular configuration and of approximately equal diameters,said first and second clamp members each including oppositely disposed,generally semicircular surfaces which engage said nozzle portions, saidmeans for drawing said clamp members toward each other including a boltin threaded engagement with one of said clamp members, said bolt beingrotatably mounted to one of said clamp members and threadedly engagedwith the other of said clamp members, the test stand including a pair ofsubstantially rigid, spaced, parallel legs, and the support memberconnected to and arranged extending transversely between the legs, themounting aperture being provided in a substantially planar portion ofthe support member, the planar portion being arranged parallel to thelegs, and wherein the stationary mounting means includes a pair ofspaced, parallel tubular members arranged in generally verticalorientation, and a transverse plate connecting together the members,portions of said legs extending into said tubular members for beingsupported thereby.